I nodded my head and grinned. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you, too, Emma. Welcome to Mason,” he said as he gave me the biggest smile I’d ever seen.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s the best welcome I’ve gotten yet,” I said with a giggle.
“That’s my boyfriend—always so welcoming,” Peggy said as she jumped into Raymond’s arms.
When they began kissing, I had to look away, and the first thing I saw was Garrett staring at me. He gave me a weak smile, and when I didn’t return one, a confused look came over his face.
“So, what movie are we going to see?” Anna asked as she walked up to Garrett.
I couldn’t help but notice how Wayne moved himself in between Garrett and Anna, and a part of me was happy to see that Garrett clearly didn’t want to be around Anna.
Billy took a bite of popcorn. “Well, considering the only two movies playing are The King and I and Lady and the Tramp, I’m going with The King and I.”
I did a little hop. “Lady and the Tramp? I’ve been wanting to see that.”
Everyone turned and looked at me with their mouths dropped open—that was, everyone but Garrett. He was smiling that stupid smile at me. I didn’t want to, but I smiled back slightly before I looked away.
“Are you kidding?” Anna said. “You’re kidding, right?”
I just looked at everyone and gave a small smile.
“Sorry, I’m not watching a cartoon,” Anna said, grabbing Wayne’s hand and pulling him off toward his car.
Billy gave me a slight smile and said, “Yeah, I’m not watching a baby show.”
I glanced at Margie, who was just about to say something, when Garrett said, “I’ll watch it with you.”
My heart started beating faster as I
asked, “Alone?”
He tried to hold back his smile, but he failed miserably. “I promise, I won’t bite.”
I thought about the girl he had just kissed a few minutes ago. “What about your little friend?” I asked, sounding like a total snob.
“What friend?” Garrett asked.
“Please,” I said as I faced Margie. “Marg…please?”
Margie rolled her eyes. “Fine, but I’m not going to enjoy it. Garrett, you want to go in my car or yours?”
Wait, why is he coming?
“Garrett can’t come!” I shouted out.
I looked at Billy and Garrett, and they exchanged a look. Garrett seemed devastated, and Billy seemed almost relieved.
“Why can’t Garrett come? He just said he would go see the movie with us,” Margie said.
Garrett took a few steps closer to us. “Yeah. Why can’t I go?”
The way he was looking at me was driving me insane. Why does my body react this way around him? I really don’t like him. I do not like him.
I squared off my shoulders and dug deep down inside. “You can’t go because I’m sure your little friend, the one you kissed earlier, would be upset that you’re watching a movie with two girls.” It was out of my mouth before I could even stop it.
Garrett looked totally confused before recognition crossed his face. “You mean Melanie?”